Rotary engine



Nov. 6, W923. 1,4733% F. G. OROURKE ROTARY ENGINE Filed Sept. 15 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 6,. 19123.

F. G. OROURKE RDTARY ENGINE s sheets-sheet 5 Filed Sent. 13 1921 Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

FRANK G. OEOUR-KE, OF LAOKA'W'ANNA, NEW YORK.

ROTARY ENGIN E.

Application filed September 13, 1921. Serial No. 500,347.

I all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK G. ORonnnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lackawanna, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rotary engines and is an improvement over the construction illustrated in my United States Patent No. 1,247,868.

An important object is to provide a rotary engine of the type embodied in my patent which is provided with novel means whereby the abutments are advanced and retracted at the proper period.

Further, the invention aims to provide novel means whereby the supply of fluid under pressure to the expansion chambers or cylinders is automatically controlled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary engine which is of highly simplified construction, durable in use and comparatively cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to indicatelike parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the im proved engine,

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the same, the view being taken on line 2,2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating the means for controlling the fluid pressure valve,

Figure i is a vertical sectional view illustrating the stator and the piston arranged therein,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the piston and the shaft supporting the same, and

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view through the abutment casing, the view illustrating the abutment.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodie ment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates spaced members upon which stators generally designated by the numeral 11 are mounted, the said stators being com osed principally of oppositely arranged eads having inwardly directed flanges 13 through which bolts or other fastening devices 12 are extended for the purpose of connecting the several sections of the stators.

Each stator is provided with oppositely directed bearings 1 1 having packing means 15 secured in place by means of. adjusting devices 16. The shaft 17 which extends through the several stators is extended through a bearing 18 mounted on the upper v portion of a pedestal 19 arranged between the stators.

As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, a piston 20 is extended radially from the shaft 17 and is rotatable within the chamber of the stator and cooperates with a sliding abutment 22 in forming expansion chambers adapted for the reception of fluid under pressure.

The abutment 22 is slidable within a casing 24 secured to the stator beneath one of the bearings let and having a detachable cover 25. The sliding abutment 22 which is adapted to extend across the interior of the stator, is provided with a rod 26 connected to a link 27 as indicated at 28 and having one end joined with the downwardly eX- tending branch of a bell crank generally designated by the numeral 29. The upper branch of the bell crank 29 is provided with a head or roller 30 arranged in the path of travel of a cam 31 secured on the shaft 17 by means of a set screw 32 or other suitable means. It will be observed that when the shaft 17 is rotated, the cam 31 will also be rotated for depressing the upper portion of the bell crank 29. Therefore, when the lobe of the cam 31 engages the head 30, the link 27 and consequently the abutment 22 will be moved longitudinally for permitting the passage of the piston 20.

However, when the lobe of the cam 31 is out of contact with the roller, the abutment 22 is moved to its advanced position by the fluid pressure from a fluid pressure conveying pipe 35 extended into the abutment casing 24. It is thus seen that when the lobe of the cam 31 is out of engagement with the bell crank 29, the abutment is urged to its advance osition by the pressure of the fluid conveyec to the pipe 35.

Fluid under pressure is conducted to the stator by means of a valve contained within a casing and having a valve stem 41 provided with a laterally directed crank 42. The laterally directed crank or arm 42 of the 'ceived within the cam groove ing operating member 17 includes. two.

lengths of metal pivoted to a base 18 as indicated at 19. The upper portions oi 'the lengths of metal from which the operating member l7 are formed, are curved outwardly to form the l6 and the lengths of metal are connected immediately below the curved portions do by a spacing block 50. The spacing block is provided with an upwardly directed pin 51 slid-able with in the cam groove 52 in a cam 53,keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 1?. As the shaft 17 is rotated, the curved portions 16 or the operating member 17 will be operated, since the upwardly directed pin 51 is. re-

52. There fore, the operation of the member 1 will reciprocate the link 44 for periodically operating' the. valve connected to the stem 4L0.

Fluid under pressure is supplied to the two casings 10 by means oi pipes extending from a main pipe 61 and discharging into the side of the casing 10. As illustrated I in Figure 1, the fluid under pressure enters the two stators 18 by means of ports 6 L formed in the inner wall of the stators. An

exhaust pipe 65 receives the exhaust from the port 64f.

Each stator is also provided with an. or;-

haust casing having a valve similar in construction to the valve casing 10 and pro-' casings 24,

In operation, the'fluid under pressure is supplied at the proper intervals to the chambers of the several stators by means of the valves and the fluid contacts with the beveled edges 66 of the pistons 20 and thereby forces the pistons to rotate for imparting a similar motion to the shaftgl'f. 'lVhen the piston 20 approaches the abutment 22, the

abutment is moved outwardly'so as to permlt of the passage or the p ston.- hen the 1 piston passes the abutment 22, theintake valves are again opened and the abutments are returned to their advance positions by pressure supplied provided with a radial piston, a valve cas v ing having a valve for controlling the sup? ply of fluid under pressure to saidstator,

said valve being'provided with a laterally directed arm, a link connected to said arm, a link operating member inclusive of a base, an arm pivoted thereto and having its up- .per portion forked to provide a pair of arms pivotally connected to said link a pin connected to said forked portion ofxthe arm. a cam having a cam groove receiving said pin, whereby toreciprocate said link periodically, and means to supply said casing with fluidunder pressure.

2. A rotary engine comprising a stator, a

' shaft extending through the stator and pro-- vided with a radial piston, a valve casing having a valve arranged therein and provided with a stem, a link cooperating with said stem, a link operating member inclusive of a base and upstanding arms pivoted thereto and having their upper portions forked, the intermediate portions of said arms being provided with a spacing block,

a pin carried by said spacing block, and a cam havlng a cam slot receivingv said pin,

one of the forks of said arms havingits ter- 7 minal pivoted to said link.

FRANK e. OROURKE. 

